The 45-year-old Dobrowolski joins the
agency after serving as deputy chief in Salt Lake City and rising to the top of
a field of 64 applicants. He replaces Carey Sullivan, who resigned last March in the midst of labor tensions and whose departure triggered a
review that found low morale with the agency.

"Whatever has happened is water under
the bridge," Dobrowolski told the Argus, "and will not be an issue for me and
did not dissuade me at all."

In Cornelius,
Lt. Gene Moss of the Washington County Sheriff's Office is in line to become
top cop July 1 following the city's recent decision to disband its police department
and instead contract with the sheriff's office for law enforcement services.

The agreement eliminates the Cornelius
police chief position and replaces it with a county
lieutenant reporting to the city manager.

Moss, 48, has worked a number of jobs
with the sheriff's office, rising from patrol deputy to supervisor of the
countywide Tactical
Negotiations Team, or SWAT.

In an interview with Woolington, he
said he wasn't put off by internal issues so deeply entrenched that retiring Chief
Ken Summers declared the department
beyond repair.

"I was aware of some of those challenges
and, actually, not as concerned as you might think," he said. "I think we're going to be
able to bring a lot of resources -- through training, accountability, policy --
and be able to infuse that, and quite frankly, help everyone grow and improve."

Aleshire's complaint says a former Forest Grove police captain spread false information about him that damaged his reputation. Aleshire seeks $750,000 in damages on claims of defamation and false light invasion of privacy.

Here's hoping that the optimism expressed by Dobrowolski and Moss is borne out in coming months and years. Though the challenges and resources differ greatly in the two cities, residents of both communities deserve a long stretch of stability and professionalism.

Given the effort that went into Hillsboro's national recruitment and the months of community debate in Cornelius that preceded the city council's decision to start fresh, hopes are riding high. It would be awfully disappointing if Dobrowolski and Moss find themselves mired in the same kinds of issues that led to their new leadership opportunities.